Introduction
The planned expansion of the Los Angeles Metro
Rail promises to provide Angelinos with access to
an alternate form of public transportation. However,
some critics of the L.A. Metro Rail believe that
the expanding network will primarily serve tourist
destinations and powerful economic hubs rather
than supporting the residents most in need of
access to public transportation. The goal of this
research is to determine if the residents most in
need of public transportation will benefit from the
expansion of the L.A. Metro Rail.

Methodology

Public Transportation
Need Index
Score Descriptions

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ta M

San

Maximum Need
No Access to a Personal Vehicle
Use of Public Transportation to Work
High Population Density

Household Income Below County Average

Moderate Need

L.A.X.

Low Need

Four variables from the 2010 American Community
Survey were used to create a transportation needs
index. Each varviable was weighed based upon
its relevance for determining a communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need
for public transportation. The resulting scores
helped identify the census tracts in L.A. County
most in need of access to public transportation.

Minimal Need
Sufficient Access to a Personal Vehicle
No Use of Public Transportation to Work
Low Population Density
Household Income Above County Average

The primary study area for this project consists
of thirty census tracts in South L.A. The site was
evaluated along with two neighborhoods near future
rail line extensions (Expo Line & Crenshaw Corridor)
in order to compare demographic information and
selected variables.

Less than 3%

5% - 10%

4% - 6%

10% - 16%

7% - 9%

16% - 31%

10% - 14%

Residents Without Access
to a Personal Vehicle
40%

Existing Stations Buffers

0

Transportation Analysis
Quarter mile buffers were placed around existing
and future rail stations to identify the primary
areas serviced by the Los Angeles Metro Rail.
This analysis reveals that the South L.A. study
area will continue to be undeserved by the
growing metro network even though it will soon be
surrounded by rail lines on all sides.

The South L.A. study area indicated the highest
need for public transportation.

Center for the Study of Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University

0

2 Miles

0

This research concludes that the Los Angeles
Metro Rail does not effectively connect the
residents most in need of public transportation to
the greater transit network. Although residents in
South L.A. indicated a maximum need for public
transportation they remain outside of a reasonable
walking distance from any single station. This
reveals that the Los Angeles Metro Rail will remain
inaccessible to the entire South L.A. neighborhood
except via multi-modal transit.